Rhythm & blues singer Umpeylia Marsema Balinton grew up in San Francisco and a childhood friend of Etta James. She toured with The Johnny Otis Revue in 1955 and it was Otis who coined her famous stage name Sugar Pie Desanto. In 1962 she singed with Chess records and in 1964 proved herself to be a memorably energetic addition to the American Folk Blues Festival tour.